Auxiliary operators for slide dampers

ABSTRACT

A manually operable auxiliary apparatus for moving a slide damper in an ejector stack having a reciprocating arm movable in a linear path. One end of the arm is detachably connected to an end of the slide damper for pushing or pulling the damper between open and closed positions. Movement of the reciprocating arm is provided by a force multiplying device whereby an operator can easily and conveniently manually move the damper between its open and closed positions when the primary operating means for moving the damper is inoperative.

United States Patent [191 Blaine Nov. 11, 1975 1 AUXILIARY OPERATORS FORSLIDE DAMPERS [75] Inventor: John C. Blaine, Ottawa, 111.

[73] Assignee: Libbey-Owens-Ford Company, Toledo, Ohio 22 Filed: July 1,1974 [21] Appl. No.: 484,417

[52] US. Cl. 432/54; 137/309; 432/181 [51] Int. Cl.' C21B 9/12; F16K11/00 [58] Field of Search 432/17, 54, 161, 177, 180, 432/181, 185, 212,222; 126/285 R, 285 A;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 610.076 8/1898 McClure126/285 21 1,762,299 6/1930 lsley 1 432/54 1.900.396 3/1933 lsley etal... 432/l8l 2,098,553 11/1937 Reiner 137/309 2,175,063 10/1939 Merkt432/54 2,795,409 6/1957 3,051,462 8/1962 Fennell 432/180 3,184,2235/1965 Webber 432/54 Primary E.\'(U7lllllf,l0hll J. Camby AssistantE.\'uminerHenry C. Yuen Attorney, Agenl, 0r FirmCollins, Oberlin & Darr[57] ABSTRACT A manually operable auxiliary apparatus for moving a slidedamper in an ejector stack having a reciprocating arm movable in alinear path. One end of the arm is detachably connected to an end of theslide damper for pushing or pulling the damper between open and closedpositions. Movement of the reciprocating arm is provided by a forcemultiplying device whereby an operator can easily and convenientlymanually move the damper between its open and closed positions when theprimary operating means for moving the damper is inoperative.

2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures US. Patent Nov. 11, 1975 Sheet 2 of3 w-ummw 1. QY

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US. Patent Nov; 11, 1975 Sheet 3 013 3,918,890

FIG. 6

AUXILIARY OPERATORS FOR SLIDE DAMPERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l.Fieldof the Invention This invention relates to furnace controlapparatus and, more'particularly, to auxiliary apparatus for controllingthe fl'ow of combustion air and hot waste gases to and from regenerativetype furnaces.

2. Descriptionfof the Prior Art As is well known, flat glass is producedin a continuous tank-type melting furnace wherein raw batch materialsarecontinuously delivered to the charging end of the furnace, melted andrefined as they move through the fur-nace,.and then withdrawn from itsdelivery end as a continuous-ribbon. In furnaces of this type, heat formelting the raw batch is introduced through ports arranged-inalongitudinal series along each opposed longitudinal'side wall, theports leading to sources of supply of fuel-andpreheated air. Thecombustion air obtains its preheat from the hot waste gases which havepreviously passed through the checkerwork of theregenerators'as'sociated with the ports being fired. The

two series of ports are alternately operated independently'of each otherso that first one series of ports is fired andthe opposite seriesexhausts that hot waste gases. Then, at periodic intervals of about tominutes, the operatihg condition of the two series of ports is reVersedQthat is, the ports being fired serve as the exhaust ports and theports exhausting the hot waste gases serve as the firing ports. Also, itshould be noted that the average campaign of such a furnace is aboutfive y s- One well known system for controlling the flow ofcombustion-air and hot waste gases employs two ejector stacks whereinone of the stacks is connected tothe regenerators associated with oneseries of ports and the other stack is connected to the regeneratorsassociated with the other'series of ports. Air is supplied underpressure to each ejector stack and means is provided whereby thesupplied air may serve either as eject'or air to withdraw hot wastegases from one seriesof ports through its regenerators, or as combustionair which will first flow inwardly through the other series ofregenerators and its associated series of ports. The reversing mechanismemployed in such a system comprises a reversing valve for directingcombustion air to one stack and ejector air to the other stack, incombination with twodarnpers wherein one damper is associated with, oneejector stack and the other damper is associated with the other ejectorstack, which dampers alternately close and open the stacks to theatmosphere. The dampers associated with the ejector stacks are normally.slide valveswhich, because of their size and weight, are conventionallyoperated by fluid power motors of the piston type.

As previously indicated, operation of these motors is frequentand,-over. extended periods of time, the extreme-operatingconditionsimposed upon the power motors cause extensive wear of their seals andeven breakdown of'their component parts necessitating occasional repairor replacement. This creates a major problem in the continuous operationof the. furnace as it is necessary for its proper operation to reversethe dampers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Generally speaking, the periodic cycling of thefur- .nace is continued when either or both of the fluid mo-.

tors are disabled by providing each slide damper with an auxiliaryoperating apparatus. In accordance with this invention, the end of eachslide damper opposite its connection with the fluid motor is providedwith a horizontally extending bail for connection to a force multiplyingdevice. The device comprises a rack and pinion mechanism mounted on andexternally of the ejector stack by a bracket wherein the pinion isadapted to be rotated by a manually operable reversible ratchet typewrench for linear movement of the rack. One end of the rack is providedwith a T-shaped slot for connection to the bail, and it may be providedwith a latch for locking the bail within the slot.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES Accordingly, it is an object of this invention toprovide a relatively simple and dependable auxiliary apparatus formanually operating a slide damper when .its primary operation means isdisabled.

Another object of this invention is to provide an auxiliary damperoperating apparatus with a force multiplying device whereby one personcan easily and conveniently move a large and heavy slide damper from oneposition to another.

Other objects and advantages will become more apparent during the courseof the following description when taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings, wherein like numeralsare employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a forced draft system foracontinuous tank melting furnace embodying this invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the system shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view, taken substantially along line 3-3 inFIG. 2, of the slide damper in the ejectorstack associated with thisinvention;

- FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the slide damper shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the auxiliarydamper operating apparatus constructed in accordance with thisinvention;and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the detachable connectionemployed to connect the operating apparatus to the slide damper.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS ting nozzles 26 and 26' aremounted in the chambers 22 and 22'. These nozzles are connected byhorizontal ducts 27 and 27' to a chamber 28 containing a revers- 3 ingvalve 29 which alternately connects the ducts to a source of ejectionair and a source of combustion air. An air fan 30, driven by a motor 31,delivers ejection air through a duct 32 to the chamber 28. Another airfan 33 driven by a motor 34, delivers combustion air through a duct 35to the chamber 28.

In the apparatus thus far described, the combustion air fan 33 may beused to supply air inwardly through either of the secondary regenerators21 or 21 to supply heated combustion air to the glass melting furnace ina known manner, while the ejector air fan supplies air for thewithdrawal of hot waste gases outwardly through the other regeneratorand the ejection of these gases to the atmosphere. Thus, with the damper25 open, the damper 25 closed and the reversing valve 29 directingejection air through the open ejector stack 23, combustion air will flowthrough the duct 27' into the inlet chamber 22 and thence downwardlythrough the secondary regenerator 21 which preheats the air beingdelivered to the primary regenerators of the glass melting furnace. Atthe same time the ejection air from the chamber 28 will flow through theduct 27 and thence upwardly through the venturi stack 23, drawing hotwaste gases upwardly from the glass melting furnace through thesecondary regenerator 21 which will be heated by the hot waste gasespassing therethrough. When the flow of air through the furnace is to bereversed, the damper 25 will be closed, the damper 25 opened, and thereversing valve 29 moved to its other position. The combustion air willthen flow downwardly through the secndary regenerator 21 while theejection air will flow upwardly through the stack 23' and withdraw hotwaste gases upwardly through the regenerator 21 The fan 33 is suitablyadjusted to supply air at the rate required for efficient combustion ofthe fuel firing the furnace, and the fan 30 is suitably adjusted tosupply air at the rate required to maintain the pressure within thefurnace at a desired value.

Since the slide dampers 25 and 25 and the operating mechanism areconstructed of like parts, a description of one will serve as adescription for the other. As indicated in FIG. 1 and clearly shown inFIG. 3, the slide damper 25 comprises a substantially flat plate member36 movably contained in a housing 37 which connects the throat 24 of theejector stack 23 to the top of the inlet chamber 22. The housing 37comprises an open annular section 38 which provides a passageway 39between the ejector stack 23 and the inlet chamber 22, and an enclosedcasing section 40 for receiving the plate member 36 when it is moved toa position to open the passageway 39. The plate member 36 is configuredto co-operate with the annular section 38 of the housing 37 to close thepassageway 39 and is normally composed of cast iron to withstand thehigh operating temperatures required in the glass melting operation. Thepassageway is approximately five feet in diameter and thus, the platemember 36 is very large and heavy.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the damper 25 is shown in its closedposition. That is, the plate member 36 overlies the passageway 39 andshuts the inlet chamber 22 from the ejector stack 23. The plate member36 is supported on a slideway 41 which surrounds the passageway 39 inthe open annular section 38. The plate member 36 is slidably movablealong the slideway 41 onto slideway 42 (only one shown) provided in theenclosed casing section 40 to open the passageway 39 for the flow of airtherethrough. Since the plate member 36 is of large size andconsiderable weight, it is normally 4 moved by a power cylinder such asa piston type fluid motor 43. The motor includes a cylinder 44 having apiston (not shown) therein connected to a piston rod 45, the end of thelatter being connected by a pin 46 attached to one end of the platemember 36 in a conventional manner.

As previously indicated, the firing of such a furnace employed in thecontinuous glass making operation is reversed at periodic intervals ofabout 20 to 30 minutes and the average campaign of such a furnace is onthe order of five years. Thus, it is apparent that the damper operatingmotor 43 is subjected to frequent and hard use over extended periods oftime which occasionally results in its breakdown.

According to the invention, the slide damper 25 is provided with amanually operable operable auxiliary operating apparatus generallyindicated by the numeral 47, so that one person can conveniently andeasily move the slide damper between its open and closed po sitions whenfailure of the power motor 43 occurs. The apparatus 47 generallycomprises a reciprocating means 48 such as an arm which is movable alonga linear path by a force multiplying device such as a gear mechanism.The reciprocating arm is provided with means for detachably connectingit to the slide damper 36.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the reciprocating means 48 of the inventiongenerally comprises a rack 49 supported within an open bracket 50 on alongitudinally extending slide bar 51. The open bracket 50 is providedwith a pair of parallel vertical side plates 52 and 53 arranged inspaced apart relation by the slide bar 51 and secured together by bolts54 (only one shown). The rack 49 extends along the slide bar 51 with itsteeth 55 in mesh with the teeth 56 of a pinion gear 57. The pinion gearis fixedly attached to a shaft 58 rotatab'ly mounted in the side plates52 and 53. A hexagonally shaped member or nut 59 is keyed as at 60 toone end of the shaft 58 for a purpose which will be describedhereinafter.

The rack 49 is supported in substantially the same horizontal plane thatthe plate member 36 lies in by mounting the bracket 50 on and adjacentto the top end of the inlet chamber 22 so that the rack may pass throughan aperture 61 provided in the wall of the annular housing section 38for connecting it to the internally located plate member 36. Thus, asbest seen in FIGS. 3 and 5, the bracket 50 is externally mounted on thechamber 22 by a pivotal connection and a supporting leg. The pivotalconnection may include an anchor leaf 62 fixedly secured to a rib 63forming part of the inlet chamber 22, the side plates 52 and 53 of thebracket 50, and a headed pivot pin 64. As shown in FIG. 5, the leaf 62projects between the side plates 52 and 53 and the pivot pin extendsthrough co-operating apertures provided in the leaf and side plates andis keyed therein by a cotter pin 65. The supporting leg may comprise aleg member 66 which extends between the bracket 50 and the wall of theinlet chamber 22. Still referring to FIG. 5, one end of the leg 66projects between the side plates 52 and 53 and is connected thereto by abolt and nut indicated by the reference character 67. The other end ofthe leg 66 projects between a pair of upstanding plates 68 fixedlysecured to the wall of the inlet chamber and is connected thereto by asimilar bolt and nut 67. Thus, the entire device 47 may be removed whennot in use so as to be out of the way, and quickly attached in case ofan emergency.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the end of the rack 49 is provided with aninverted T-shaped slot 69 for attachment to a bail pin 70 attached tothe end of the plate member 36 by a pair of projecting members 71. Apivotal latch 72 is provided across the open leg of the T- shaped slot69 to detachably lock the bail pin 70 within the T-shaped slot. Theconnection between the rack 49 and the plate 36 may be made within theinterior of the housing 37 by inserting the coupling end of the rackthrough the apertures 61, engaging the slot 69 with the bail pin 70 andclosing the pivotal latch 72.

As indicated in FIG. 4 and shown in FIG. 5, a reversible ratchet wrench73 having a hexagonal socket for receiving the member 59 is provided formanually rotating the pinion gear 57 in either ofits directions ofrotation. The handle 74 of the wrench 73 is of such length that itprovides a mechanical advantage to easily rotate the pinion gear 57 andpull or push the plate 36 between its open and closed positions,respectively.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown anddescribed, is to be taken as an illustrative embodiment only of thesame, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of theparts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

1 claim:

1. In a reversing forced draft glass melting furnace of the type havinga pair of regenerators adapted for periodic cycling, an ejector stackconnected to each regenerator, an ejector nozzle mounted in each saidstack, a reversing valve periodically and alternately communicating saidnozzles with a source of combustion air and a source of ejection air, aslide damper associated with each said stack above each said nozzle todirect the flow of air in each said stack, a power means forautomatically and periodically operating each said slide damper inconjunction with said reversing valve, the improvement comprisingauxiliary operators for moving each said slide damper between open andclosed positions and wherein each said auxiliary operator includes:

a. means for reciprocating its said slide damper between said open andclosed positions in event of failure of said power means and comprisinga movable rack;

b. means for mounting said reciprocating means on said ejector stack insubstantially the same plane as said slide damper;

c. a manually operable force multiplying device operatively connected tosaid reciprocating means for imparting movement thereto; and

d. means for detachably connecting said reciprocating means to saidslide damper, said detachable connecting means comprising a bail pinaffixed to the end of said slide damper, and said rack being

1. In a reversing forced draft glass melting furnace of the type havinga pair of regenerators adapted for periodic cycling, an ejector stackconnected to each regenerator, an ejector nozzle mounted in each saidstack, a reversing valve periodically and alternately communicating saidnozzles with a source of combustion air and a source of ejection air, aslide damper associated with each said stack above each said nozzle todirect the flow of air in each said stack, a power means forautomatically and periodically operating each said slide damper inconjunction with said reversing valve, the improvement comprisingauxiliary operators for moving each said slide damper between open andclosed positions and wherein each said auxiliary operator includes: a.means for reciprocating its said slide damper between said open andclosed positions in event of failure of said power means and comprisinga movable rack; b. means for mounting said reciprocating means on saidejector stack in substantially the same plane as said slide damper; c. amanually operable force multiplying device operatively connected to saidreciprocating means for imparting movement thereto; and d. means fordetachably connecting said reciprocating means to said slide damper,said detachable connecting means comprising a bail pin affixed to theend of said slide damper, and said rack being provided with a T-shapedslot for receiving said bail pin.
 2. An auxiliary operator for manuallymoving a slide damper as claimed in claim 1, including a latch connectedto said rack for locking said bail pin within said T-shaped slot.